Maintenance
UK Fire safety legislation requires that the responsible person must ensure that the premises and any protective measures are subject to a suitable system of maintenance. Maintenance is essential for any equipment but particularly for safety critical uses such as fi re safety equipment. All protective measures for fi re safety must be safe, reliable, effi cient, effective and ready for use at all times. The maintenance system should cover all fi re safety equipment, systems and facilities such as, fi re detection and alarm systems; means of escape; emergency lighting; signs; notices and fi re fi ghting equipment.
In order to fulfi l the requirement of a suitable system of maintenance, all facilities, equipment or devices must be:
• In an effi cient state; evidence of achievement of a high level of performance against a given measurement
• In effi cient working order; verifi ably ready for use when required for the application designed for and able to operate when needed
• In good repair; well taken care of and in sound condition.
This is achieved by regular checks and proper maintenance procedures. Regular inspection and testing by the responsible person and a competent person is necessary at suitable intervals. These checks ensure that any faults or failings will be found and rectifi ed as quickly as possible.
The appropriate checks and procedures can be found in the relevant codes of practice such as BS 5306 for portable extinguishers and BS 5839 for fi re detection and alarm systems.
The defi nition of a competent person will depend on what is being maintained. Generally, a competent person will have undergone a programme of training followed by ‘on the job’ experience. Ideally training will be administered by an independent body, to maintain competency, the competent person should undergo continual professional development.
The fi re risk assessment should indicate broadly what measures are required and any obvious failings in existing measures. A competent person specialising in a particular area of fi re safety such as, maintenance of extinguishers or fi re detection and alarm, would be able to provide the specialist knowledge necessary to ensure the fi re safety measures are not only in good working order but remain adequate and appropriate.
20 | BEST PRACTICE GUIDE TO FIRE SAFETY
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